Comprehensive Utility Mapping & Topographical Survey – BAE Systems Facility, Barrow-in-Furness

19th November, '25

OVERVIEW:

As part of a major facility expansion at the BAE Systems site in Barrow-in-Furness, Tri-Tech was commissioned to deliver a comprehensive utility mapping and topographical survey to support the design and installation of a new on-site car park and associated infrastructure upgrades.

This large-scale survey formed a critical foundation for future development, enabling the client to proceed with confidence that all existing utilities and buried assets were accurately located, mapped, and recorded before construction began.

our approach

Working within an operational industrial environment required precision planning and coordination. Our multi-disciplinary survey team combined topographical surveying with detailed PAS 128-compliant utility mapping to deliver a complete picture of the site – both above and below ground.

Topographical Survey

Captured existing ground levels, surface features, boundaries, and drainage features to inform the design of the new parking and access infrastructure.

Utility Mapping Survey

Using a combination of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic Location (EML) techniques, our team accurately traced underground utilities, including power, telecoms, gas, and water.

Data Integration

By correlating both surface and subsurface datasets, we delivered a unified model that significantly improved design efficiency and risk assessment accuracy.

the challenge

Working on an active defence manufacturing site required strict adherence to security protocols, safety procedures, and operational scheduling. The key challenges included:

Maintaining full compliance with on-site safety and access restrictions

Capturing data in complex, service-dense areas with minimal disruption

Coordinating with multiple stakeholders to align survey phases with active operations

Our surveyors collaborated closely with fire service staff, adapting around emergency drills, shifts and vehicle movements to ensure safe, uninterrupted station operations.

the solution

To meet these challenges, Tri-Tech implemented:

Phased survey delivery to ensure work could proceed without interfering with daily site activities

Real-time quality assurance, ensuring each utility trace was verified before integration into final plans

Cross-discipline coordination, with our topographical and utility mapping teams working seamlessly together to deliver consistent, verified datasets

HMP Manchester is known worldwide as “Strangeways,” but behind the notoriety lies remarkable architectural value. This dual identity brought a dual challenge:

results & impact

The completed utility and topographical surveys provided BAE Systems and their design partners with a highly accurate, georeferenced model of existing site conditions. This information now underpins critical design decisions for the facility expansion, helping to:

Prevent costly utility strikes during excavation and construction

Reduce design risk through verified, location-accurate data

Optimise long-term asset management by maintaining a detailed record of service locations

Support sustainable growth, reducing unnecessary rework and ensuring a cost-effective build phase

Through our meticulous approach, Tri-Tech played a key role in enabling safe, efficient, and data-driven expansion for one of the UK’s most significant industrial facilities.

This project exemplifies the value of accurate, integrated survey data in high-stakes industrial environments. By combining utility mapping and topographical surveying, we helped the client mitigate risk, reduce costs, and safeguard their assets – proving once again that precision data leads to smarter, safer decisions.